Portrait of Nicolas Boileau Despréaux 1710

Curator: Oh, he looks like he’s about to share a deliciously wicked secret. What a sly smile! Editor: You're spot on about that captivating smirk. What we're looking at here is "Portrait of Nicolas Boileau Despréaux," dating back to 1710. It’s an engraving on paper by François Chereau the elder and it resides here at the Art Institute of Chicago. Curator: Ah, engraving – makes sense with that fine web of lines creating light and shadow. I can almost feel the texture of his wig, the plushness of his jacket! The precision is incredible, as is his expression. He looks so self-satisfied, yet approachable. Was this a popular way to circulate portraits? Editor: Precisely! Engravings like this made art accessible. Boileau, a prominent literary figure of his time, would have had his image circulated widely. Consider it a 18th-century social media, allowing him to cultivate a public image. Engravings played a crucial role in disseminating not only images of powerful figures, but ideas and aesthetics across society. The popularity of Baroque portraiture created a high demand for printed images, feeding into a growing market for art and printed material. Curator: So, like a profile picture, but make it Baroque? He certainly understands the assignment. I feel like this engraving elevates him, maybe idealizes him just a touch... and yet you see the real man in that expression. It's as though the artist managed to capture not just his likeness, but a whole attitude! Editor: Baroque art certainly has a knack for that theatricality. Note how the elaborate wig frames his face, drawing our eye directly to his expression. The inscription beneath the portrait even adds another layer – alluding to his place among literary giants like Horace. These visual cues underscore his importance and legitimize his status in the intellectual world. It is a reminder of how deeply image, status and influence were entwined in that era. Curator: He knows who he is, doesn't he? A portrait designed not just to remember him, but to make him legendary! I feel I understand the age a little better having seen this print. Editor: Indeed, engravings give us a glimpse into how reputations were made, remade, and circulated, reflecting the ever-changing tides of social and political landscapes. Thanks for noticing the small inscription on the artwork, by the way, as these are easy to miss, but often add layers to the piece in unexpected ways.